Since its construction in 1893, this Gothic Revival church has been a dominating presence in its neighborhood of small two-story row houses. The first trained African American architect in DC, Calvin T.S. Brent designed various churches, but Third Baptist was the last and is the only extant church that is clearly credited as his work. However, although he worked during segregation, Brent completed a large body of work from 1876 until his death at the age of 45 in 1899, inspiring the next generation of black architects. The only substantial alteration to Brent's design occurred in 1919, when the church added a new choir loft, organ loft, and baptismal pool designed by African American architect Isaiah T. Hatton.
As one of the oldest and most active African American congregations in Washington (organized in 1858), Third Baptist strove to advance the political and educational rights of African Americans. Although Third Baptist did not include the oldest and wealthiest black families, it shared many of the concerns of the city’s most elite black churches. It was committed to temperance and education and was willing to work with sympathetic white churches.
Under the 41-year pastorate of Reverend George O. Bullock from 1918 to 1959, Third Baptist grew to become one of the largest and most influential churches in the city. During Bullock's tenure, the church actively supported the work of organizations like the NAACP and Negro National Educational Congress by organizing mass meetings, seeking voting rights, and pushing for desegregation of the public schools and armed forces. Third Baptist distributed aid to people in the surrounding neighborhood who were uprooted by the devastating events following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968. It narrowly averted demolition during the Shaw urban renewal project.
DC Inventory: September 25, 2008
National Register: November 26, 2008
]]>Built between 1876 and 1879, Saint Luke’s is a major work of Calvin T.S. Brent (1854-1899), the city’s first Black architect. It is designed in the early English Gothic style (Gothic Revival) and features a long nave with cast-iron columns, exposed roof framing, oak paneling, and stained glass. Yet, some say the edifice is a physical creation and embodiment of Reverend Alexander Crummell’s belief in the role the church historically played in the lives of Black Americans as an advocate for social change, education, and self-help.
Reverend Alexander Crummell (1819-1898) overcame obstacles of the color caste in the ministry and helped found Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. He was also one of the foremost Black scholars of the nineteenth century, a pioneer in establishing an African American tradition of scholarship, a spokesman for Black liberation, and the founder of the American Negro Academy. Crummell’s work inspired future scholars throughout the twentieth century, as they carried on his legacy of understanding Black civil rights and the ongoing struggle for freedom.
Through these positions, Crummell laid a foundation for future intellects’ scholarship and organizing efforts, such as Carter G. Woodson’s formation of the ASNLH and Du Bois’s creation of the NAACP. Additionally, both Du Bois and Marcus Garvey followed Crummell’s belief in Pan Africanism. Crummell’s life exemplifies a tradition inherent in the development of Black history and culture in which his philosophies were carried further by those who came after him.
DC Inventory: March 3, 1979
National Register: May 11, 1976
National Historic Landmark: May 11, 1976
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